“The True Danger.”

I am heartfelt about the importance of driving responsibly. My uncle (on my dad’s side) Albert, meet an untimely demise due to an impaired driver wrecking the tracker trailer he was in; he died upon impact with the windshield, thus decapitating him.

That one inconsiderate person caused multiple life’s to be lost during that cold morning in Oklahoma. Thus, affecting the many lives left behind, to endure the painful consequences of that one impaired driver’s decision to drink and drive.

My father unraveled after his younger brothers’ life was taken from him. He became inconsolable and dove deeper and deeper into his additions; until his physical and mental health reached the point of no return. This ruined our family; we endured abuse by his hand and was driven into poverty due to my father’s refusal to work and stop indulging in his additions.

That drunk driver set off a chain reaction within or home; he was the hair that broke the camels back. I cannot prevent myself from pondering over it. “What could have been of my family and life, had that man just chosen not to drive that early morning, all those years ago?” I guess I will never have the luxury of knowing the answer.

Furthermore, there are many things I would do to help prevent dangerous driving practices. For starters, I would make it mandatory that all bars and restaurants require your car keys to get put into a device that safely stores them while you are drinking in the facility. It will not unlock until you pass a breathalyzer test, connected to the machine itself. Secondly, I would establish a system that can detect cellular usage data by whoever is in the driver seat while in a moving vehicle. Then sending an automated text when the car comes to a complete stop (for over three minutes) warning the individual that authorities have been notified and will be forced to take further action should this matter persist. Allow three warnings per month before it goes on the public record, and legal action is taken.

However, as of now, what I do to help prevent reckless driving habits is turning my phone on “airplane mode,” which prevents calls, messages, and notifications from appearing while I need to drive. I do not eat while steering; however, I allow safe cup wear, no cans or bottles. Music is on a USB drive, and I only allow myself to change songs or volume while coming to a full halt at a stoplight or sign. Sunglasses are always clipped to my sun visor to avoid being blinded during the sunny parts of the day. Full roadside and self-aid kits are always in my trunk, along with a change of clothes for an emergency. And if I am riding with someone and they keep using their phone for meaningless things, after I have asked them nicely three times to “stop,” I take it from them and hide it under my thigh and tell them, “you will get it back once you are done driving us, and we both have reached our destination.” Therefore, when I go out with most people, I always drive; because they found me excessive on the matter.

Thank you for reading. I hope to hear your follow-up questions for me soon.